The Sydney Roosters will be without Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for five NRL games after the imposing prop accepted a five-match ban on Wednesday.
Waerea-Hargreaves was charged with a grade one reckless high tackle for his hit on Manly’s George Rose on Monday night, which led to the season’s first send-off.
The 24-year-old will miss crucial games against North Queensland, Melbourne and Canterbury, with the Roosters certain to feel his absence in the middle of the field following a hot start to the season.
He will also be unavailable for clashes against Parramatta and the Warriors before returning in round 16.
In a scheduling quirk, the New Zealand international will make his comeback in the return fixture against the Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium in what is sure to be a fiery affair.
Waerea-Hargreaves was one of six players to accept early pleas, which includes Roosters teammate Jake Friend, who is free to face the Cowboys on Saturday despite copping a grade one careless high tackle charge.
In other judiciary news, South Sydney winger Andrew Everingham will miss two matches after taking the early guilty plea for a grade-two shoulder charge.
Parramatta’s Darcy Lussick will also miss two weeks for fighting, with Brisbane’s Josh McGuire and Penrith’s Mose Masoe escaping suspension with their early pleas.